FORMER Rangers owner Craig Whyte has parted company with his lawyers in a court action brought by a Government minister aimed at banning him from being a director.

Solicitor advocate John Gildea told a judge at the Court of Session in Edinburgh that the team no longer acted for him and sought leave to withdraw.

David Thomson, counsel for the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, said "skeletal answers" had been lodged as defences to the case and that steps would be taken to find out if Whyte intended to proceed with his opposition to the move.

Lord Tyre said the matter could be brought back before the court at a later date.

The legal move against 43-year-old Mr Whyte, of Monaco, could see him facing a disqualification from holding company directorships for up to 15 years.

He took over the Ibrox club in 2011, when he bought the controlling interest, and it was plunged into administration the following year.